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    Blai 9

    4.3 (100 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Blai 9 Photos

    BLAI 9 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Very loud
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Blai 9

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    Vermouth
    Clarice T.

    Great ambiance and staff. Hubby and I enjoyed sitting outside, watching the locals go about their night while enjoying our drinks and pintxos. The servers were patient and attentive. Personally, I like tapas better than pintxos but still can't go wrong with hanging out here. We got here on time! The neighborhood came alive with trick or treaters and regulars. We actually stayed longer than we expected! We enjoyed chatting with the staff and some locals; we didn't want to leave such a great location. But unfortunately we had more places to check out.

    Alison K.

    A welcoming pintxo spot! Choose which pintxos you want and they reheat them to order. One of the less busy pintxos restaurants on the block, but it shouldn't be. The selection may not be as big as some of the others, but good quality.

    Cava
    Crystal H.

    This was my favorite tapas in Barcelona. Had many choices. Just pick out what you like. Wish they had little signs indicating what's what...you have to ask each time. Nice atmosphere and friendly service. I would go back here.

    Andreas K.

    With the intent to dine at Quimet&Quimet (which turned out to be closed for the summer), there were a number of restaurants in that same neighborhood. Blai 9 proved to be an excellent place with a creative setup: patrons take a seat wherever there is one. At the bar sets of beautifully arranged pintxos and mini-tapas are ready for self-serve: No waiter, no waiting, just going, selecting, carrying to the table and devouring ... As many as one sees fit. All kinds of varieties, none bad, all delicious. Prizes per item vary and are visible based on the type of cup, plate, tray. Really, the concept is simple and charming. At the end, the mini-cups and trays are counted and added up - voila!! Sorry Quimet, but if they chose to be too much on vacation, there are alternatives.

    Jack W.

    If you love Tapas (who doesn't right?), than this will be a must stop while in Barcelona. If you crave small tasty treats, this is the place for you? They have so many different items to choose from and you will be amazed by the flavor in each one. Grab a pitcher of Sangria to go along with them and enjoy!!

    Patatas bravas
    Anson W.

    Pinchos pinchos, everywhere is pinchos! That's what it can feel like around Carrer Blai and the surrounding neighborhood, where the number of places offering tapas and pinchos (tapas on a stick) seems to be greater than the number of places that don't. Blai 9 offers gourmet pinchos made with care and without traditional bread. The wife and I were on a tapas crawl through the neighborhood and tried two pinchos here: one with bacon and a piadina, the other with honey, a crepe and jamón. Both were enjoyable. The prices were reasonable and included tax. Pinchos are not labelled, so you have to go by looks or ask the staff. You grab as many pinchos as you want, and the color of the toothpick in each pincho determines the price, so the staff just counts the sticks at the end of your meal and charges you accordingly. Ingenious. We also ordered patatas bravas off the tapas menu. These were made well, with crispy potatoes and a sauce that had a decent kick. Served alongside were small pieces of crunchy bread and a dipping sauce that we didn't make much use of. The only concern I had was that this place wasn't too busy and there wasn't a lot of turnover for the pinchos on the counter. But they tasted good, so they probably hadn't been sitting there for a very long time. Service was friendly, and the older gentleman working here (the owner?) was very patient with me as I tried to order in broken Spanish. Gracias Blai 9 for the short but enjoyable experience!

    David K.

    The Poble Sec neighborhood of Barcelona is lined with pintxos bars, and Blai 9 featured an attractive, colorful display counter of these delicious, ready-to-eat tapas! The system was simple: everything served on a white plate was 1,30 Euros, and everything on a black plate was 1,80 Euros, making this a super affordable way to try out a bunch of different dishes! Every pintxo here was creatively crafted and plated, and I simply pointed to each item that caught my eye. A number of the pintxos here were served over blinis, or little pancakes, which came with toppings like tomatoes, peppers, and goat cheese; smoked salmon; and a slice of Spanish tortilla topped with aioli and seaweed. One of the most eye-catching pintxos was a sandwich of smoked salmon and cream cheese--but served in a green burger bun! There were lots of deep-fried items as well, including a Sobrasada (cured sausage) roll served with honey, chopped almonds, and a slice of jamon; a creative "ham and cheese" piadina, topped with a square of cheese, blueberry jam, and a cheese crisp; and a mushroom piadina with crispy bacon on the side. But my favorite little bites were the black squid ink croquettes (Croqueta de Xipirons); and the clever black rice rolls (Roll de Arroz Negro), which were fried wrappers stuffed with squid ink rice, skewered with two strips of calamari, a cherry tomato, a prawn, and a green olive! Overall, I was simply amazed by all the creations here, and the prices were unbelievable too--a total of nine pintxos and two glasses of wine came to just 20 Euros, which was an absolute steal for the quality and presentation of the food!

    Helen Y.

    Great place for good looking pinchos with a price! Food/Drink: The pinchos were the fanciest out of all the pinchos bar we went to. They were creatively decorated and made into works of art to be admired before eating. With that said, they also had a fewer options than other bars we went to which was disappointing. The quality of the food wasn't exceptional but it was a nice place to get 1 or 2 pinchos to start the night off. Price: Most of the pinchos were 1.80 euros with very few (there was only one when we went) pinchos that are 1 euro. Atmosphere: As with other pinchos bars there is very limited seating inside the restaurant so getting here before it gets crowded might be a good idea. Tips: Try their house vermouth, it's pretty good

    Jennifer S.

    This is a really cute restaurant with really delicious and cheaply priced pinchos. I have taken friends here multiple times, and have not been disappointed yet! The staff at the restaurant is welcoming and helpful. Will go back soon!

    Sangria is ON POINT!
    Blue A.

    Sangria was my water in Barcelona. Seriously. I drank at least a pitcher of sangria every day...well shared a pitcher, those were good days. But, some days we did 2 pitchers a day. Those were great days. So after an amazing dinner up the street, we ended up here for dessert. Dessert in liquid form. Sweet, sweet dessert. Ok, it was wine with sugar. But it was the best kind of dessert you could ask for and at €10 for a liter, I call that a deal. The sangria was solid. The pitcher came with two small glasses, and we posted up by the window at a little table/bar setup. Smooth, sweet and stacked with chunks of fresh fruits. Getting a seat by the window offered up some awesome people watching while we sipped away. The staff was super friendly a and the bites looked really good, but we were stuffed.

    Jesse C.

    Delicious pintxos! Like most other pintxos restaurants on Blai street, it is self serve/buffet style where all the pintxos are set up on the counter. The size is perfect- so cute and bite-sized, which makes it easy to try a few and restaurant hop to try some more!

    Brian S.

    Pinchos (open faced sandwiches) are a tradition in Spain that originated in the Basque country. Like any food, these snacks have evolved over the years and you can now find toppings that range from more traditional tortilla and fish to more modern chicken wings and hamburger patties. The street that this restaurant is on (named Blai, of course) is frequented by mostly young locals, so it makes sense that most of the street's bars cater to them. Blai 9 is all the way on the modern end of the spectrum, and while they serve a few traditional pinchos, most of their dishes are big, beautiful, and very contemporary. The experience was very enjoyable, and the food was good (but not great). Beer was well priced (but there is cheaper), and service was very quick. If you find yourself in this part of Barcelona, head over to Blai 9 and give their modern twist on this old dish a try!

    Assortment of artistic tapas at Blai 9 in Barcelona.

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    3 years ago

    Phenomenal drinks, food, and staff. We got the sangria and a couple pintxos (tiny bite size tapas). Thank you so much!!

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    Amazing food and experience. Stayed in Barcelona a week before a cruise. Went 3 times. And brought friends back.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Blai 9 Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Blai 9

    We've had Pinchos probably six or seven times & before we leave we will definitely come back at least one more time.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

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    Cañete - lobster croquettes

    Cañete

    4.6(573 reviews)
    0.9 kmEl Raval
    €€€

    Wow, this meal was so good I literally made another reservation after we left. This place might be…read moreadvertised as a tapas restaurant, but it's much more than that. The service was excellent, our server spoke English and knew so much about American pop culture. He even sang NSYNC songs to us while serving us dishes. As for the food let's get into it: - Lobster Croquettes (8/10) We've had a lot of croquettes this trip, but these were on another level, get one per person. - Paella (7.5/10) Different style of paella from other places we went. It was almost like a paella curry, which was still rich and delicious. - Squid Sandwich (10/10) This is hands down the best appetizer I've ever had. The squid was packed with flavor and the mayo sauce they used paired perfectly. Order one per person, and be prepared to order another to go. - Garlic Shrimp (8/10) Solid entree paired with sourdough bread. Dip that bread into the sauce and you'll be satisfied. - Aged Beef Steak w/ Foie Gras (9/10) This might be one of the best steak dishes I've had traveling abroad. It was cooked perfectly, and came with a potato crust on the bottom and Foie Gras on top. Definitely a must order. Overall a great experience, from the service and ambiance to the quality of the food, this is a must try when visiting Barcelona. Would I go again? Absolutely!

    BLUF: not only one of the best meals I've had but also one of the best dining experiences I've ever…read morehad. If you're in Barcelona this MUST be at the top of your list. Cañete was booked out for 2 weeks straight, so we decided to risk it and see if we could get a spot as walk-ins; and were lucky enough to want less than 5 minutes before being sat at the "bar" in front of the open kitchen, which is honestly the best seat in the house IMHO. You get to see all the 'action' and interact with the friendly and often funny staff. Everything in the menu we tried was fantastic, but a few standouts for me were the squid sandwich (do yourself a favor and try it, even if you aren't a "squid person" the bread is fresh, and the butter garlic sauce they use should be sold in bottles at the supermarket), the lobster croquet was refreshing, and the aged beef steak with foie and truffle sauce was delicious and cooked to perfection.

    Photos
    Cañete - Packed with locals - Faiyoh!! (Uncle Roger)

    Packed with locals - Faiyoh!! (Uncle Roger)

    Cañete - Lobster croquettes

    Lobster croquettes

    Cañete

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    El Macareno - Bastoncitos de Pollo (homemade chicken nuggets with BB sauce)

    El Macareno

    4.8(20 reviews)
    1.3 kmEl Raval
    €€

    Food was fantastic, drinks were strong, service was great, ambience isn't the best but it's lively…read moreand a fun vibe with friends or even a date!

    We were lucky to find this place which was a few minutes from our hotel. On the website, it said…read more"online reservation made before 8 pm gets 30% off." So we went! We were led to the dining room upstairs. The menu has English descriptions beneath each dish. We ordered 10 dishes: Pan Con Tomate (bread with tomato and tomato sauce), Patatas Bravas (Spanish potatoes; not greasy, very tasty), Albondigas de la Yaya (meatballs with tomato sauce; very tender meat), Calamares a la Andaluza (fried squid; nicely cooked and not rubbery, like them alot), Bastoncitos de Pollo (homemade chicken nuggets with BB sauce; crispy and tender, tasty BB sauce), Empanada Compesina (not too crazy about this one), Empanada Picante (spicy meat; it is okay), Spaghetti Carbonara (very soft, lots of sauce; nice dish), Yakimeshi (rice with squid and shrimp; my favorite!), and Macareno (hamburger, doble cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and fried egg; very juicy, mouth watering and very American hamburger!) Water is a very pricey item in Europe. We ordered three bottles of water at 2.30 EUR or 2.60 USD each. We did get 30% off our bill! The server was friendly, patient, polite, and very warm. The dishes were reasonably priced. We had a wonderful dining experience at this place. Highly recommended if you visit the area.

    Photos
    El Macareno
    El Macareno
    El Macareno

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    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai

    4.5(256 reviews)
    0.1 kmEl Poble-sec

    Has two inside seating areas and outdoor patio So Cheap…read more Lots of Variety! I will say this was one of my first experiences with real tapas. I love that there were so many options. I don't know if it's just me as an American or what, but the temperatures of the foods was my only "complaint" per se. Some of the tapas I thought would be hot were lukewarm at best. So, I'll have to try more places to just see what's normal for Spain.

    For me, this is hands-down the best pintxo spot in Barcelona! La Tasqueta de Blai is top-shelf --…read morethe selection is incredible, everything is fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Pair it all with a cold Estrella and you've got yourself a 5-star winner! I loved the fun learning curve here: grab a plate, pick whatever pintxos catch your eye, and keep the toothpicks (of all shapes and sizes!) so your total can be tallied at the end. Some toothpicks were just holding things together -- I had to laugh at that -- but it's all part of the charm and experience. La Tasqueta was so good that we came back a few days later for another round, only to find it temporarily closed due to a plumbing issue. Sadly, we couldn't wait since we'd already hiked all over Montjuïc earlier that day. We tried another pintxo place down the block -- it was okay, but honestly, not even close to the same level. This place is amazing -- friendly, fun, and absolutely delicious. Sit inside and be dazzled by the colorful pintxos lined up along the counter, or grab a spot outside under an umbrella and watch the world go by. Loved this place... 5 stars all the way!

    Photos
    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai
    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Restaurant La Tasqueta de Blai - Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

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    Pinchos at La Tasqueta de Blai

    Tapeo - Tomato and buffalo mozzarella

    Tapeo

    5.0(26 reviews)
    1.9 kmSant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera-Born
    €€

    Second trip back to Barcelona. Had to make the right restaurant choices for my favorite tapas…read moredishes. I was definitely right on the mark as all restaurants I've walked by before dinner wasn't as crowded as this. And this place had a line out the door. Pan con tomate (toasted bread with tomato spread) was done sooo right here because they used crisp brioche bread and the tomato spread had a nice balanced ratio of olive oil blended into it. The patatas bravas (brave potatoes) took me back to the first time I had this in 2018. Such good crisp skin, soft fluffiness and that aioli mayo signature sauce on top - I swear I feel they make their own sauce for this dish. Grilled octopus here is special as instead of a tentacle - you get a fatty piece with multiple cuts of the octopus. Even better just as you would get multiple pieces of fatty toro in an omakase. I just loved the ease of dining in Barcelona where you share small intricate flavored plates with a glass of wine to balance these dishes. It was a nice long but roomier restaurant in the back. Very deceptive to the eyes but in a good way. You get to see the chefs cook near you that makes you appreciate the work of art put into the food. And can't forget the oxtail dish that's uniquely in the form of a patty and broken up into shredded meats. Fabulous to everything.

    Great food and vibe with friendly service. We went here without reservations on a Friday night, but…read moreit being early(6pm) we were seated without a wait. We got the pinxto morano (lamb skewers) which were the favorite of the meal, glazed beef cheeks and grilled octopus with chick peas, all of which were good. For dessert with got the dark chocolate with olive oil and salt served with bread to top off a great meal. They do have other dishes that we would look forward to trying next time!

    Photos
    Tapeo - Tapeo, busy and friendly vibe

    Tapeo, busy and friendly vibe

    Tapeo
    Tapeo - Ice cream sandwich

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    Ice cream sandwich

    Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar - charcuterie board

    Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar

    4.9(38 reviews)
    1.7 kmSant Pere, Santa Caterina i la Ribera-Born

    This place had wonderful service and a cool atmosphere. Plenty of tapas options and we tried a…read morebunch.

    Ziryab fell onto my radar as a popular tapas spot in Barcelona. I didn't make that many dining…read moreplans in advance before visiting the city, I just knew I wanted tapas. Ziryab seemed to fit the bill, so we made plans to stop here during our first night in the city. Ziryab is located close to the Gothic Quarter, on side street. It's kind of inconspicuous from the outside, but the interior gives way to a really welcoming space. The restaurant is separated into two main areas, with an earth-tone color scheme that has a rustic, almost cave-like aesthetic. The high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows keep the dining room open and spacious. The tapas menu had a good selection, and we decided on several items: pan con tomate, sweet potato rolls, chicken cannelloni, bacon-wrapped figs, croquettes, falafel, and a charcuterie board. All the tapas were great - my favorites were the chicken cannelloni, pan con tomate, and the charcuterie board. The cannelloni especially was a standout - definitely a unique dish, and the chicken was super flavorful. We opted for dessert, and got the feta whip cheesecake - this was great as well. The combination of tang and sweet was a good finisher to our meal. Service was great - everyone was friendly and our dishes were served at a good pace. Overall, I'm glad I tried out Ziryab - the tapas were delicious and atypical of ones you find elsewhere in Barcelona. I would have no qualms returning here for another meal.

    Photos
    Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar - One of 3 interior rooms

    One of 3 interior rooms

    Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar - Pan con tomate

    Pan con tomate

    Ziryab Fusion Tapas Bar - Tasting dips

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    Tasting dips

    Blai 9 - tapas - Updated May 2026

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